Yesterday was busy…as was Sunday night.
As I was driving back to Ohio, Mr. Prevention was heading to Michigan for the work week. We passed each other on the highway in Fort Wayne, Indiana and decided to rendezvous at the classiest joint around: Applebees. I joked that we looked like interstate lovers having an affair — showing up in different cars, one with Oklahoma plates, the other with Pennsylvania…a quick meal, and then a kiss goodbye in the parking lot before heading completely opposite directions. Ha!
Mr. Prevention opted out of grocery shopping for me over the weekend, so on my way into town on Sunday, I swung by the grocery store to power shop for the 12 or so items that were on my list. In and out in 15, woop!
Lily was all too excited to see me, but I did manage to unpack some and get ready for the week ahead. And by get ready for the week ahead, I really mean that I made muffins. Believe me, my Monday morning was a whole lot brighter with those muffins in my life.
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Low Fat Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins from Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 cups 100% whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups blueberries
1 tsp vanilla
1 large egg, beaten
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 F.
Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.
In a medium bowl, mix eggs, melted butter, vanilla and applesauce. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just blended. Gently fold in blueberries.
Pour batter into 12 lined muffin tins and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for about 10 minutes. Yield: 12 muffins.
Nutrition Information (per muffin): 145 calories; 2.6 g. fat; 18 mg. cholesterol; 206 mg. sodium; 27.6 g. carbohydrate; 2.8 g. fiber; 2.7 g. protein
Result: These were wonderful…absolutely wonderful! There is nothing like soft, fresh baked good bursting with blueberries. I used frozen blueberries, as fresh are not quite in season and I had no problems with that substitution. You definitely wouldn’t guess these are a mere 145 calories each! Mmm! Enjoy!
[/print_this]I did Crunch Chisel yesterday and I hated almost every second of it (the first 5 were tolerable, I guess). I alternated between my 5# and 8# dumbbells. After my wimpy 24-minute strength session, I felt weak and opted out of any cardio. I also decided against the cardio so I could get by without showering and getting ready (again) before class. I’m partial to showering last thing at night and hopping into bed squeaky clean 🙂 (this is reason #2387 I have trouble with morning workouts). Lame excuse to skip out on cardio…I know. Fitness gurus…what should I do? Cardio before strength, or strength before cardio? I’m all too liable to talk myself out of one or the other, so things like 30 Day Shred are good for me — two-for-one! Why can’t running get me sexy arms…? 😉
Question: What are you most looking forward to this summer?
I find myself looking forward to Saturday mornings at the farmer’s market. 🙂
Have a great week!
I love bluberries in cupcakes and these looks absolutely perfect and delicious!
Author
Thank you!
I’m looking forward to not wearing a coat while hiking…
And lemonade!
Author
Mmmm! I LOVE lemonade in the warmer months, too 🙂
Too funny about your rendezvous with Mr. Prevention! I’m just picturing you guys on the highway…cuteness!
Having a fun treat to wake up to on Mondays is the best! Definitely gets you out of bed.
As for this cardio/strength business, I’ve heard it’s better for your body to do some cardio first so you get warmed up and get your heart rate up, this way you burn calories more efficiently during your strength workout.
Author
That makes a whole lot of sense to me! 🙂
LOL. Love the story and the recipe 😉
Fort Wayne! One of my best friends from high school is from there… there’s a bakery she swears by that I always tell her I’m going to visit if I ever drive through…
Glad you had a great trip!
Author
That’s too funny! If you know the name, I’ll definitely check it out next time I drive through. You have to go through to get to Chicago…no way around it!
I’m looking forward to farmers markets too!! and baking, as soon as my baking pans and muffin cups arrive – hurry up, air force shipment! 🙂 As soon as we arrived in our new apartment on Friday I had this massive urge to bake muffins, and now that I’ve seen this gorgeous recipe… so healthful and beautiful… ahhhh… blueberry muffins are my ultimate favorite… I just might have to run out and get some extra muffin tins… a girl can never have too many muffin tins, right? 😉
Author
No such thing! 🙂 The more kitchen everything the merrier!
Blueberry muffins are a favorite of mine. To me, they just scream summer!
I always do strength training after cardio, but that’s just me. I don’t even have a real reason behind it! 😛
Author
I totally agree…summer muffins, indeed! 🙂
Yum! Those muffins look tasty!
If both cardio and strength are equally important to you at one given workout, do strength before cardio. This way, you won’t be too tired to practice good form in lifting.
Author
See, and that’s what I’ve heard in the past. I know if I’m pooped, my form definitely suffers.
Yum! I love blueberry muffins 🙂 These look delicious!
Haha…interstate rendezvous 🙂
My husband loves blueberry muffins! I should make these for him!
You are so right, muffins do brighten up any morning! 🙂 I loved reading about your rendezvous with Mr. Prevention…that’s too cute! Hope you have a great day!
I’m looking forward to the farmers’ market too! 🙂
I prefer cardio before strength because I kinda hate cardio.
But when I’m focussing on gaining muscle mass then I do strength first so that all my energy goes into weight lifting and then even if I do skip cardio, I don’t care as much. What’s Crunch Chisel? A Video?
Author
It was on Exercise TV. It was very cheesy, but I liked the pace and it was hard, but doable (even for a wuss like me!) 😉
Blueberry muffins are one of my all time favorites. I love the recipe from Stonyfield Farm – it uses yogurt instead of the oil. So delicious.
I cannot wait for Farmers markets and fresh fruits and veggies as well. I love summer food!
Author
Thanks for the heads up, Heather! I am definitely going to check out that recipe!
Just chiming in on the fitness bit, it’s better to do the majority of your strength FIRST. That said, a warmup to loosen your muscles/joints (and prevent injury) is good to start with before anything, so 5-10 minutes of light cardio. Then strength for 20-30 minutes and lastly the majority of your cardio for 20-30 minutes.
Doing too much cardio first will burn through your immediate energy and muscle glycogen stores, leaving you with little to work with when you lift weights. By doing strength first you are able to use that energy more effectively for lifting, and then better tap into fat stores during cardio. It’s a lot harder for your body to tap into fat stores during weight training (anaerobic) than it is cardio (aerobic, ideally).
Hope that helps, muffins look delicious :)!
Author
Kate, thank you for your comment! That all makes complete sense. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out! 🙂
I adore blueberry muffins! And whole wheat pastry flour is the best thing ever. I’m certain.
Love your interstate love affair moment. You have to make time how you can, though. 🙂
Author
So, so true! 🙂
I need to make a folder on my computer “Prevention RD recipes”. I would love to hang out with you for 1 week, so you could cook for me. =)
Author
Awww! You’re too sweet! My best friend just said yesterday that when she comes to visit this summer she wants me to cook every meal, lol. I’m totally flattered…thank you 🙂 And hey, most of it’s good for you, too !!! P.S. Tomorrow is Lily’s birthday – I’m making her doggy mini cupcakes tonight 🙂
I love blueberry muffins and I was actually looking for a good recipe since I stole my boyfriend’s muffin pan 😉 Gotta make these!
Oh btw if you’re looking for some fitness guidance you should check out my post today! It might help 😀
Author
Going to check it out now! THANK YOU!
Blueberry muffins are my fav muffins of all time. I will have to put these on my do make list!
I am just looking forward to sun and some warmer temps…up here in NE Ohio…we have had nothing but rain, gray skies and 40 degree days…I am sick of it!!!! I hope May has better weather in store for us.
These muffins look amazing! This post reminds me that I don’t bake enough.
I can’t wait for flip flops! I can wear them now so I guess that is cheating a bit.
Author
Baked goods make mornings so much brighter 🙂
Who knew that low fat, whole wheat muffins could sound so yummy? I totally want to try those.
Author
So easy, so good! I’m thinkin’ about Lexie lots…poor peanut!
Have you tried Crunch diesel? It rocks! It’s hard but fun and incorporates toning! I would also recommend 30 Day shred!
Can’t wait to make those muffins! Look terrific!
Author
Not yet, but it’s on Exercise TV…I’ll give that one a shot next! Thanks for the rec! 🙂
I love the highway rendevous you and Mr. Prevention had! FUN!!! These muffins look great! And the summer? Can’t wait to go out without wearing a jacket. Not looking forward to having to shave my legs more often but it’s a small price to pay for the warmth and sunshine. 🙂 Have a great day Nicole!
I am looking forward to having my daughter back home after her year of studying in Spain. Meals cooked on the grill, lots of fresh summer fruits and veggies and long walks and bike rides!
Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins would definitely make my Monday morning brighter 🙂
I’m looking forward to summer dresses and sandals!
Yum to blueberry muffins!
Do you know I fantasized about your Carrot Cake all weekend because I wanted to make it for Easter, but never got around to it since we were at the shore?! 🙁
On the fitness front, I just read an article this a.m. that echoes exactly what commenter Katie G. said! Now I switched it up and did weight lifting before cardio today!
The cupcake looks really good 🙂
I am saving this recipe up for my blueberry muffin fix!
When I was in track and cross country, the coach made us do strength before cardio…it was a pet peeve of mine! But apparently it’s better for your muscles.
Author
I’m going to give it a go today. I have a feeling that like yourself, I won’t be a fan!!
I’m sure glad I don’t have much of a sweet tooth because these do look very tempting! Unfortunately I was given a salty chip and dip tooth instead. 😉
Blueberry muffins suddenly became my favorite muffins, I use to never like blueberries! I have my own recipe I created for blueberry muffins, and it doesn’t use butter but it uses Greek Yogurt. Do you think I would be able to use Greek Yogurt instead of butter (I’m very strict on cutting out butter on anything I make)? I’m hoping to give these a try this weekend!
Author
Jennifer: My first choice would be canola oil or another heart-healthy oil to replace the butter. You could also sub in an additional 2 tablespoons of applesauce or try Greek yogurt, yep. I hope that helps!